The Film Daily (1926)

THE -^^ DAILY Sunday, April 4, Personinel {Continued from Page 1) when young Calhoun hits the road, the word somehow gets around that he's in town. After that, the place is his. Turn to Kansas City where a quiet individual named Cole is on the roster. He would have been in the home office a long time since, but he knows a trick or two in pulling political strings out of his way. Therefore, he stays in Kansas City. The story continues that the Hays office requested Famous to keep him there. Then consider Herman Wobber who will be an important Paramount executive on the Continent from now on. Independently wealthy and in that enviable position where he could do as he wanted, Wobber continues with his love of long-standing. Bill Smith, Philadelphia district manager, and Mike Landau, likewise in that territory, are only two others. FiveJTear Contracts The hunch was well-founded. It's because of unrest over theater operations that exhibitorsl have approached Universal for five year contracts. It is a desire for backbone service, a sort of guarantee of a steady flow of product. Then when the water flows upstream instead of down — if it ever does — the exhibitor is set. There is another angle to it. It enables Universal to forge right ahead with theaters. This is why. "U" will sign the agreements where an exhibitor wants them. There can be no complaints about service. But it also allows Universal to do as it wishes in the theater field without kickbacks from theater owners. There is an indication that several chains are flirting with the five year contract idea. It Has Come To This Out in Wichita, Kansas, the dear old public thinks the director is only a minor in the business of making pictures. Out of 400 ballots, many failed to even mention him. Others bluntly added they didn't bother observing names. Others said scattered pictures left an impression and admitted the directors earned mention. That was fine, but they couldn't remember names. All of which may interest some of the gentlemen in Hollywood who are strong for the 24 sheet credit lines. Incidentally, part of Wichita at least thinks Joe Schenck and Adolph Zukor are "good directors." Keen for His Idea Sam Taylor goes back to the Coast tomorrow. In a few weeks he starts directing for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. This is his idea: He intends making an old-fashioned love story with some of that new school direction emphasized by Lubitsch. Taylor seems to have the background. Years ago, he studied dramatic construction at Columbia. During the day, he wrote scenarios for Ham and Bud. The extremes are as far apart as the poles. Then came his long association with Lloyd — about seven years all told. Taylor has harbored his idea. Now he gets his chance. The result will be interesting. Surprise— A Pleasant One It wasn't so long ago that somebody at Fox slipped into the exchanges prints of "Over the Hill" and "The Connecticut Yankee." Exhibitors generally were informed that they were there. Nothing else. Then booking came in. Not in droves. but quietly and steadily. Several Fox houses again played I pictures. And what a surprise that move turned out to be. T" house records were broken. Others v/ere threatened. It" Jimmy Grainger raised his eyebrows. The Ambition Realized C. B. C. — Cohn, Brandt, Cohn — now becomes Colurabi;! tures. The brand name will become national. Columb : changes everywhere through deals with many independei '' change owners with whom Messrs. C. B. C. have dealt long. It's the realization of a dream, this operating thei l j oflices. But it's here. No wonder the partners are happi ^^ A Significant Move Did you get the import of what happened early in the ! : The Regional Distributors' Association affiliated with the! office. The membership is slight. But watch how it grow it numbers sixty. That sixty will embrace the cream of th right operators throughout the country. They want to what's going on. From now on, they will. The 12 ft. Sign They are cramped for space at the Metro studio. 1 rectors' board, so-called because it bears the name of ali Lj on the lot, is twelve feet high. It now lists twenty-eight And all available space thereon is exhausted. Going Up How those Paramount boys will step this spring an mer. All geared for new sales record. The reason? f' bition to do enough business to dent the market and m common reach 150. J.'k IP I PHILANLPtllA'S WIDE AWAK This interesting fact is definitely proved by the speed with which its leading exchangemen are signing up the Rayart product. The Newest one to avail himself of this sure-fire avenue of profit is Ben Am sterdam, whose masterpiece exchange will market :.J1| ! The I RAYART-RADIANT COMED For 1926-1927 RIDE TO PROSPERITY ON THE RAYART LINE^ Foreign Distribution Through Richmont Pictures, \w>